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'Christmas in August' helps Bradenton's needy prep for school

Back-to-School Event for Homeless Children

More than 400 children attended the back-to-school event for local homeless children at the Pittsburg Pirates Stadium in Bradenton, Fla., on Saturday, August 3, 2013. The event was hosted by the Pittsburg Pirates organization, the Manatee County School District and the Bradenton Kiwanis Club along with over 30 other organizations. / (August 3, 2013; Corespondent Photo by Casey Brooke Lawson)

Published: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:16 p.m.

BRADENTON - Two days ago, Jennifer Leonard was laid off from work. Six weeks before that, heR husband broke his shoulder. Later this month — despite her stretched finances — her two sons will return to school.

Parents shared stories similar to Leonard's Saturday at “Christmas in August,” a back-to-school event sponsored by the Bradenton Kiwanis Club.

“It brings out the community and gets everyone together,” Leonard said. “Everybody has something different in their life that they're struggling with.

“It's nice to know someone is always there.”

The Kiwanis Club invited the families of all Manatee school district students who qualify as homeless to the event at McKechnie Field. Some of the children live in temporary housing, hotels or with family and friends.

“A lot of us are parents, and we know what kids need at the beginning of the school year,” said Jeb Mulock, incoming president of the Bradenton chapter. “Some of our members work with the school district, and they realized there was a need that doesn't have support.”

More than 200 volunteers set up booths at the baseball field on Ninth Street in Bradenton and gathered in examination rooms at the One Stop Clinic to provide gift cards, school supplies and health screenings.

Leonard's sons, Corey and Arzell Booker, each had physical, vision and dental check-ups.

“With their insurance it takes forever — sometimes six months — to get them in for a screening,” Leonard said.

Corey, 10, and Arzell, 5, also received free haircuts. Each left the event with mohawks; Corey had an extra star design cut into his hair.

Within two hours, Bayside Community Church gave away 400 backpacks. Corey got a music-themed one, and Arzell's was covered in Transformers. The family filled the bags with different goodies — snacks, soap, a toothbrush and education materials — collected throughout the day.

In a McKechnie Field locker room, the sound of buzzing clippers and snipping scissors filled the room as inches of hair piled up on the floor. Children waited to sit down for trims, fades and layers.

“We're helping these young individuals with their self-esteem, going back to school with a new ‘do,” said Cynthia Corbino, senior cosmetology instructor at Manatee Technical Institute. “It starts off the year right.”

Across the street at the One Stop Clinic, LECOM students checked children's weight, height, blood pressure and vision.

“This gives an opporunity to a lot of kids who wouldn't get the kind of physical exam they need for school,” said Dr. Derek DeWitt, a third-year family medicine resident at Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Down the hall, MTI dental assisting students helped dentists screen children. One tooth was pulled and a few X-rays were completed.

“It's important to instill in our students that some dental needs are unmet,” said Kimberly Bland, director of MTI's dental assisting program.

<p><em>BRADENTON</em> - Two days ago, Jennifer Leonard was laid off from work. Six weeks before that, heR husband broke his shoulder. Later this month — despite her stretched finances — her two sons will return to school.</p><p>Parents shared stories similar to Leonard's Saturday at “Christmas in August,” a back-to-school event sponsored by the Bradenton Kiwanis Club.</p><p>“It brings out the community and gets everyone together,” Leonard said. “Everybody has something different in their life that they're struggling with.</p><p>“It's nice to know someone is always there.”</p><p>The Kiwanis Club invited the families of all Manatee school district students who qualify as homeless to the event at McKechnie Field. Some of the children live in temporary housing, hotels or with family and friends.</p><p>“A lot of us are parents, and we know what kids need at the beginning of the school year,” said Jeb Mulock, incoming president of the Bradenton chapter. “Some of our members work with the school district, and they realized there was a need that doesn't have support.”</p><p>More than 200 volunteers set up booths at the baseball field on Ninth Street in Bradenton and gathered in examination rooms at the One Stop Clinic to provide gift cards, school supplies and health screenings.</p><p>Leonard's sons, Corey and Arzell Booker, each had physical, vision and dental check-ups.</p><p>“With their insurance it takes forever — sometimes six months — to get them in for a screening,” Leonard said.</p><p>Corey, 10, and Arzell, 5, also received free haircuts. Each left the event with mohawks; Corey had an extra star design cut into his hair.</p><p>Within two hours, Bayside Community Church gave away 400 backpacks. Corey got a music-themed one, and Arzell's was covered in Transformers. The family filled the bags with different goodies — snacks, soap, a toothbrush and education materials — collected throughout the day. </p><p>In a McKechnie Field locker room, the sound of buzzing clippers and snipping scissors filled the room as inches of hair piled up on the floor. Children waited to sit down for trims, fades and layers.</p><p>“We're helping these young individuals with their self-esteem, going back to school with a new 'do,” said Cynthia Corbino, senior cosmetology instructor at Manatee Technical Institute. “It starts off the year right.”</p><p>Across the street at the One Stop Clinic, LECOM students checked children's weight, height, blood pressure and vision.</p><p>“This gives an opporunity to a lot of kids who wouldn't get the kind of physical exam they need for school,” said Dr. Derek DeWitt, a third-year family medicine resident at Manatee Memorial Hospital. </p><p>Down the hall, MTI dental assisting students helped dentists screen children. One tooth was pulled and a few X-rays were completed.</p><p>“It's important to instill in our students that some dental needs are unmet,” said Kimberly Bland, director of MTI's dental assisting program.</p><p>“They can be part of the solution.”</p>